Jo-Wilfried Tsonga wowed tennis fans when he played in Auckland last year.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga could make a surprise return to the ASB Classic.

The French tennis star pulled out of playing in next week's tournament in Doha because of a wrist injury.

While it was significant enough for him to skip that event, he is still looking to play at the Australian Open later in January.

If the 32-year-old is looking for matches before the Australian Open, he has two options, to play in Auckland or Sydney.

READ MORE
* Venus second seed for Classic
* Lewis back for another crack
* The fun never stops with ASB Classic drawcard Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Tsonga, ranked 15 in the world, hasn't played in Sydney since 2009 and has only ever won one match there.

In his only appearance in Auckland, last year he made it to the semifinals and seemed to enjoy his time in the city.

There are still two wildcards available for the men's Classic, which begins on January 8.

For tournament director Karl Budge, Tsonga joins the list which includes Andy Murray and Milos Raonic as players who could potentially come to Auckland, although given Tsonga's circumstances he could be higher up that list, depending on the severity of his wrist injury.

"There are a few people in that space at the moment," Budge said.
Ad Feedback

"It's one of those years where there are more options than you can shake a stick at.

"We've probably already got more than enough, but if you've got an opportunity to add another star into the mix, we'd be foolish not to give it everything we can.

"I got a request from a player this morning that's a great option for us, so there's a lot to consider."

With Juan Martin del Potro, Jack Sock, Sam Querrey and John Isner already confirmed for the men's Classic and tickets close to being sold out for the week, there's not a lot of extra money to be made from bringing in another top player, but it does build a good relationship, that could be beneficial to the tournament down the line.

As well as two singles wildcards, Budge also has a couple doubles wildcards at his disposal, with Michael Venus, Marcus Daniell and Artem Sitak all making the cut with their respective partners.

It's possible these could be given to other New Zealand players, such ad Finn Tearney and James Meredith, who won the New Zealand championships earlier this month.

Or he may give it to the country's No 4 doubles player Rubin Statham, although another option is for some of the up and coming players being given it, such as Macsen Sisam, Finn Reynolds or Ajeet Rai.

"We're having that conversation at the moment," Budge said.

"I met with Simon Rea (Tennis NZ high performance director) yesterday and we'll do so again.

"I want to support what Simon and the team are doing. They're doing a cracking job and the team he's put in place for professional tennis in New Zealand is the best we've had for a long time.

"I want to do everything we can to support that. That said, it's pretty competitive for those wildcards, a couple of main draw players have asked for one and that's something I have to give some consideration to."

However, Sock and Isner regularly play doubles and it could be that either of them would like a wildcard to play doubles in Auckland.

However, Budge said he has been in touch with Djokovic's people about playing in Auckland if he wants to get some matches under his belt before the Australian Open, subject to him being fit enough to play.

"We've had an initial conversation there and a quick response, which is pleasing," Budge said.

"A let's keep talking is better than a no. So we're in a really good position, the men's field is in great shape and we're in a great space in general, in that anything from here is a second cherry on the top.

"So we'll wait and see over the next couple of days what things look like."

Budge added that the dialogue between the tournament and Djokovic will continue and if he comes it's likely Tennis Auckland will need to to go Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development to help contribute to any appearance fee.
Ad Feedback

This was also the case a couple of years ago, when it looked like being a possibility that Rafael Nadal could come back to Auckland.

However, while it would be expensive, it would put Auckland on news bulletins around the world.

"You feel like a bit of an ambulance chaser," Budge said.

"The poor guy has just had the disappointment of pulling out of a tournament, the moment that happens you've got tournament directors saying, 'what about us?'

If he was to come, it would undoubtedly make it the best lineup ever for the tournament, with Jack Sock, Juan Martin del Potro and John Isner all confirmed.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is also interested in a wildcard and depending on results elsewhere, Tomas Berdych and Milos Raonic could be keen on coming to New Zealand.

Marcos Baghdatis is believed to be interested in coming and would like a wildcard, but could even enter qualifying at the Classic and make the trip anyway.

There is only one wildcard left available for the tournament with New Zealand's Michael Venus and Wu Yibing, the 18-year-old from China who won the boy's US Open this year and reached No 1 in the world as a junior, taking the others.

Budge said he doesn't feel like he went too early in giving a wildcard to Yibing.

"It's an investment for the future," he said.

"When you've got 2018 ASB Classic men's field taken care of and to me this is the best lineup I've put together.

"So my focus and why we've been successful is because we've invested in that future.

"We didn't need anything further for this year. Don't get me wrong, it would be amazing amazing to have Tsonga, Milos or Novak here this year. However, the field is amazing and the sold out signs are polished and ready to be put out.

"So we're looking at what 2020 or 2022 looks like. So getting a junior grand slam champion from mainland China seems like a pretty smart play to have a crack at."

Djokovic is the only one of the so called 'big four' not to have played in Auckland before, with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray all playing at the tournament earlier in their careers.

Some of the ATP World Tour's finest explore Sydney ahead of this week’s event

With the Sydney International set to get underway this week in the coastal capital of New South Wales, some of the world’s top players took the time to witness some of the city’s famous sights.

World No. 26 Diego Schwartzman, who is making his first appearance in Sydney this week, joined 2017 Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open finalist Mischa Zverev on a boat in the prolific Sydney Harbour. The ATP World Tour stars enjoyed some fine dining and a game of mini-tennis next to the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge on a brilliant sunny day in southern Australia.

“It’s amazing for me. It’s my first time here in Sydney – I am enjoying it a lot,” said Schwartzman, the tournament’s third seed. “I came here the other night with my coach and my friends and it’s amazing to be here in the day. The weather is good today and I think I’m enjoying [it] a lot.”

The eighth seed, Zverev, who plays Leonardo Mayer in the first round of the tournament, noticed quite the difference between tennis on land and sea.

“It’s very different, very unusual. There no way we are [playing like] on the mainland – we are on a boat – and we don’t have this view, so this is very unique,” said the 30-year-old German. “Sydney is a great city but I never got to see it from this point of view and I’m really enjoying myself.”

Elsewhere in the city, Fabio Fognini, joined by 2017 US Open women’s singles champion Sloane Stephens, took a tour of the Sydney’s Cockatoo Island, having a quick hit on the unique grass courts of the island, which is a popular site for many cultural and heritage events in the region.

“The island, it’s quite different – I’ve never been here so it’s something special also for us,” said Fognini. “...On tour we have no time to do these kind of thing because we are always in hotels and tennis courts, tennis courts and hotels, so I really enjoyed it.”

The 28-player draw gets underway Sunday with defending champion Gilles Muller and six other Top 30 players headlining the action. In addition, 18-year-old Alex de Minaur returns to his hometown of Sydney following a breakthrough run to the semifinals of the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp, and is joined by compatriots Jordan Thompson, Alex Bolt and John Millman.

Earlier, top-seeded Albert Ramos-Vinolas participated in the draw ceremony for the tournament, which is currently in its 125th edition. Ramos-Vinolas was the runner-up at last year’s Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and will face either Thompson or Paolo Lorenzi in his opening match.